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RBC Financial Group has awarded five students with scholarships through its Aboriginal Student Awards Program, including Jessica White Cow of Pincher Creek. The annual scholarship provides $4,000 for a maximum of four years at university, or for two years at community college.

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The Ben Calf Robe School? St. Clare Elementary Junior High School celebrated 25 years of providing academic and cultural programming to First Nations, Metis and Inuit children in Edmonton on May 12.

The Thundering Spirit Drum group performed the grand entry drum song as representatives from the school advisory council, the superintendent of schools, the board of trustees, the Alberta government and the Ben Calf Robe School Dancers made their way to the stage.

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Residential school survivors are one step closer to receiving their share of a $1.9 billion compensation package now that the federal cabinet has put its stamp of approval on plans for the pay out.

That approval finalizes the agreement-in-principle announced in November 2005 but the plan must be approved in nine provincial courts and a five-month opt-out period must pass before the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement will come into effect.

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"Little Angels Among Us" was the theme of the 11th annual Esquao Awards held in Edmonton on May 12. The night honored girls ages six to 12 who were picked from Aboriginal communities across the province to represent the bright hope of the women of tomorrow.

It was a variation on the theme of the past awards ceremonies held by the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW).

"Angels Among Us," said IAAW president Muriel Stanley Venne, is a reminder of "why we honor our women, and that's because they are the strength of our communities."

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High school students in northern Saskatchewan have a new tool at their disposal to help them make plans for their post-secondary education.

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The Saskatchewan Centennial Canoe Quest was the big winner when the 17th annual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence were handed out in Saskatoon on April 6.

The centennial project, which saw 30 teams of modern-day voyageurs retrace an historic trade route along the Churchill and Sturgeon-Weir Rivers, took home two awards-best promotional marketing campaign for an event or festival with a budget over $20,000, and the Spirit of Saskatchewan Award.

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Hockey players from across western Canada gathered in Meadow Lake for two recent tournaments, one a Metis Local 31 event held April 7 to 9 and the other a western regional tournament held April 14 to 16.

It was the 17th year for both tournaments, said Dwayne King, one of the tournament organizers.

This year, five teams played in the Local 31 event, vying for cash prizes of $12,000, $6,000, $4,000 and $3,000. The regional tournament, which featured nine teams, had a $15,000 prize.

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The 2006 First Nations Winter Games took place in Regina from April 16 to 21, giving young athletes from across the province a chance to meet and compete.

The games were hosted by Gordon First Nation but were held in nearby Regina to take advantage of the state-of-the-art sporting facilities in the city.

Athletes competed in hockey, volleyball, broomball and badminton, as well as in one demonstration sport-basketball. They also had an opportunity to take part in cultural and social events during their stay.